Women miss health check-ups because they fear losing job

Career women are risking cancer and infertility by delaying vital health checks because they are afraid of being sacked, experts warned today.

They said the recession was to blame for women not taking time off from hectic work schedules to visit their doctor.

Charity Wellbeing of Women, whose patron is the Prime Minister's wife Sarah Brown, said checks that women are putting off include routine tests for cervical cancer which are free on the NHS.

Another concern is pregnant employees failing to tell their boss they are expecting a baby in case they are overlooked for a bonus.

A new report by the London Health Forum suggests people are putting off seeking help until they are seriously ill.

It shows patients with debt-related anxiety and ill-health are costing the NHS £450 million a year.

The taskforce, chaired by City "superwoman" Nicola Horlick, who owns investment company Bramdean Alternatives, is calling on health trusts to offer early-stage debt counselling.

Cutbacks have already led to a drop in spending on private healthcare by companies.

A recent investigation by health analysts Laing & Buisson found that spending on private treatments fell by more than 10 per cent in 2007 — the first drop for 20 years.

In a bid to encourage women to take responsibility for their health, Well-being of Women is holding a "one-stop shop" this Saturday at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in Regent's Park.

This will include free advice from female medical experts on cervical cancer and health and fitness checks.

Liz Campbell, chairwoman of the charity, said too many women fell into the trap of trivialising their health worries such as breast lumps or abnormal bleeding.

She said: "We are not intending to scaremonger but women don't take themselves seriously enough.

"This is something our patron, Sarah Brown, says we have personal responsibility for. Women are partly to blame for not taking time off work.

"In a professional environment it's often not easy to get time off and women often postpone checks. There's also a big cultural issue in this country in that we do not talk about women's issues.

"Women in other countries will routinely visit a gynaecologist. If you had a sore throat you would go to the doctor or get a flu jab. And you're not likely to die of flu."

City workers whose husbands have been laid-off are particularly vulnerable, according to the charity.

Ms Campbell said: "I met a woman last week who is in a high-powered job and her husband has lost his.

"They have two children in fee-paying schools. She couldn't risk losing that job.

"What you squeeze is that bit that belongs to us and that means that bit about looking after yourself."

This comes amid growing worries among workers in the capital over the threat of unemployment, as the Government released new unemployments figures today.